The small two story house at 37 East Street was built as a storehouse as part of the Kendrick estate at 3 Hovey St. In 1834 by Stephen Baker Jr. bought the building for use as a grocery. The lower section of the lot toward the river was used a lumber yard and Baker opened a way to the river, constructing a wharf at the end of the lane. The lot with the exception of this building was sold to Lewis Choate in 1854, who built the large house at 1 Scotton’s Lane.

The Account book kept by Stephen Baker from 1842 – 1911, farmer and grocer of Ipswich includes names of customers, descriptions of items, and prices. Enclosures include notes and correspondence of George V. Millett. It is available asMSS 1018.1 in the Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA.

Source: Volume I:1633-1700, published in 1905 Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony by Thomas Franklin Waters